A BBC Watchdog investigation analyzed 25 items bought across major e-commerce platforms and found that only two met official sterling silver requirements. Eight items held illegal amounts of carcinogenic cadmium, with some pieces recording concentrations as high as 10% against the 0.01% legal limit. Laboratory tests also discovered an Etsy necklace bearing a 925 hallmark that contained up to 11% nickel after causing severe skin irritation. In response, Amazon and OnBuy launched product recalls, while Temu began testing similar inventory.
Key points
Amazon, Temu, Etsy, and OnBuy all supplied jewellery that breached safety limits for dang…: Amazon, Temu, Etsy, and OnBuy all supplied jewellery that breached safety limits for dangerous heavy metals.
Product recalls and listing removals were initiated by multiple retailers after the safet…: Product recalls and listing removals were initiated by multiple retailers after the safety investigation exposed the violations.
Third-party seller oversight remains an ongoing safety hazard for customers purchasing ch…: Third-party seller oversight remains an ongoing safety hazard for customers purchasing cheap accessories on popular digital marketplaces.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
- Published
Jewellery advertised as sterling silver on popular online marketplaces was found to contain toxic chemicals, following a BBC investigation.
Some 25 items - bought from Amazon, eBay, Temu, Etsy and OnBuy - were examined by experts for BBC Watchdog on The One Show.
Laboratory analysis found eight contained illegal levels of cadmium - a chemical that can cause cancer. Only two items could be classified as sterling silver.
Amazon, eBay, Temu and OnBuy said misleading listings were prohibited and that it had removed the jewellery identified by Watchdog. Etsy did not respond.
Toxic Jewellery - Watchdog on The One Show
Tempted by cheap jewellery advertised as 925 or sterling silver? A Watchdog investigation into if they are genuine finds some contain toxic chemicals.
The story about toxic jewellery starts at 01:50
Meranda, 34, bought a necklace advertised on Etsy as handmade sterling silver but says after a few days of wearing it her "neck started getting really irritated".
"I remember looking at it as I took it off and thinking the colour on this doesn't look right."
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